Flush type door handles



Oct. 20, 1964 s o 3,153,553

FLUSH TYPE DOOR HANDLES Filed Sept. 27, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. j /5 BY 59/6 1mm C: ATTORNEY Oct. 20, 1964 B. SANDOR FLUSH TYPE DOOR HANDLES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 27, 1961 d INV EN TOR. f; 7 55/0. Jmv/ ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,153,553 FLUSH TYPE E091! HANDLES Bela Sandor, Detroit, Mich assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 27, M61, Ser. No. 141,190 3 Claims. Cl. 22-336.3)

This invention relates to latch actuating means, and more particularly to a vehicle door handle.

One feature of the invention is that it provides improved latch actuating means. Another feature of the invention is that it provides an improved vehicle door flush type handle. A further feature of the invention is that it provides a flush type door handle having means multiplying the extent that the gripping portion of the handle projects out from the surface of the door as the handle swings from inoperative position to gripping position upon actuation of the operating means for the handle. Still a further feature of the invention is that, in one embodiment, it provides a handle having a gripping portion, an operating portion, and a multiplying lever connected between said portions for multiplying the extent that the gripping portion extends from the surface of the door as it moves from inoperative position to gripping position upon actuation of the operating portion. A further feature of the invention is that, in another embodiment, it provides a handle having a gripping portion and an operating portion formed integrally therewith, together with mounting means providing alternate pivotal axes for said handle for multiplying the extent that the gripping portion projects out from the surface of the door as the handle swings from inoperative position to gripping position upon actuation of the operating portion of the handle.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, having reference to the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fra rnentary side elevational view of an automobile incorporating the improved handle in the front door thereof;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged transverse section taken in a horizontal plane through the handle and a portion of the door, the handle being shown in solid lines in one position and in broken lines in another position;

FIGURE 3 is a section similar to FIGURE 2 but showing the handle in a diiferent position;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical section takenalong the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2;

FIG RE 5 is a vertical section taken along the line 55 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical section taken along the line 6-6 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE '7 is a horizontal section showing a modified form of the invention;

FIGURE 8 is a section similar to FIGURE 7, but showing the handle in different positions, and

FEGURE 9 is a vertical section taken along the line 9-9 of FIGURE 7.

it is often advantageous to use a flush type handle in a vehicle door since handles of this type, when in inop erative position, do not have projections which may catch the clothing of passengers entering or leaving the vehicle. In the usual flush type handle there is an elongated gripping portion which normally lies in inoperative position (position A of FIGURES 2 and 7) substantially parallel to and flush with the surface of a panel of the door or other automobile member, and a finger actuated operating portion which, upon actuation, causes the gripping portion to move out from the panel to a location in which it can be gripped by the operator (position B of FIGURES 2 and 8). Having gripped the door handle, the operator may pull it outwardly to operated position (position C of FIGURES 3 and 8) to unlatch and open the door. One disadvantage with handles of this type which have been used in the past has been that the gripping portion did not move out far enough upon actuation of the operating portion to permit the operator readily to grip it by inserting his fingers between the door handle and the door panel. The invention provides means for multiplying the extent that the gripping portion of such a handle projects from the surface of the body as the handle moves from inoperative or flush position to gripping position upon actuation of the operating portion of the handle.

Referring now more particularly to FIGURES l-6 of the drawings, an automobile designated generally as 10 in FIGURE 1 has a body 12 with a front door 14 which is hingedly mounted in conventional manner (not shown) along its front edge and which is latched at its rear edge to a body pillar. An outside handle for operating the latch is designated generally as 16 in FIGURE 1. In FIGURE 1 of the drawings the latch is shown diagrammatically at 18. If desired, reference may be made to United States Patent 2,871,049 entitled Rotary Bolt Door Latch which issued in the names of S. D. Cockburn et al. on January 27, 1959, for a complete disclosure of a suitable latch and the manner in which it operates.

FIGURES 2-6 show the construction of one embodiment of the handle and its mode of operation. The door 14 has an outer panel 2?: which is formed with an opening adapted to receive an escutcheon or handle housing member 22 which is secured to the door by screws 24 extending through a support bracket 26 mounted inside the door. The handle comprises two separate portions, the rst being an elongated gripping portion designated generally as 28 and the second being a finger actuated operating portion designated generally as 3% The gripping portion 28 is pivotally mounted at one end on a pin 32 which extends between the opposite walls of the housing or escutcheon 22 and, as shown in FIGURE 2, the elongated gripping portion is adapted to lie substantially flush with the door panel 20 when in inoperative position. When so located the free end of the gripping portion 28 abuts a rubber bumper 34 which is mounted inside the escutcheon. A boss 36 projects inwardly from the gripping portion of the handle intermediate its ends and is connected to a spring 38 the other end of which is secured to the support bracket as in order to bias the gripping portion of the handle toward its inoperative position as shown in FIGURE 2. The operating portion 3d of the handle comprises a finger actuated end surface 40 and a curved leg 42 which is pivotally mounted by means of a pin 44 extending between the opposite walls of the escutcheon 22 so that upon finger pressure being applied to the actuating surface 4% of the operating portion Shit will swing inwardly or in a clockvdse direction as the parts appear in FIGURE 2. A multiplying lever 45 is pivotally connected to the operating member 30 by means of a pin 46 and the free end 47 of the lever 45 abuts and has slidablc camming engagement with a cam surface 43 formed on the boss 36 of the handle gripping portion 28. The lever 45 has a dog leg having a fulcrum recess 59 adjacent the intersection of its two arms.

A latch actuating pin 52 has one end seated against the inner surface of the finger actuating portion of the operating part 36 and the other end projecting through an opening in the escutcheon 22 and the support bracket 36 so that it is adapted to operate a latch member 54 which may be similar to the construction shown in Patent 2,871,049. A coil spring 56 surrounds the pin 52, being seated at one end against the head'of the pin and at the other end against the escutcheon so that the spring 56 biases the pin 52 to the position shown in FIGURE 2.

When finger pressure is applied to the surface as of the operating portion fill, this portion swings from the inoperative position A towards the gripping position B shown in FIGURE 2. During this movement Lie pin 52 slides axially inwardly so that its end abuts the latch actuating member 54. During the first part of this clocl wise movement, the multiplier lever 45 is carried bodily until the pin 32 seats in the fulcrum groove 51 of the lever, and during the balance of the movement of the portion 30 the lever pivots on the axis of the pin 32 causing its free end to cam the gripping portion 28 of the handle to its gripping position B as shown in FIGURE 2. This arrangement provides a multiplication factor which increases the extent that the gripping portion projects out from the door over the amount it would project if a simple pivot were provided. When in gripping position the operator may readily insert his fingers between the portion 28 and the panel of the door and grip the handle so that it can be pulled to its operated position C as shown in FIGURE 3. As the gripping portion 28 of the handle is pulled from position B (FIGURE 2) toward position C (FIGURE 3), a camming shoulder 29 on the hub of the gripping portion 28 picks up the multiplying lever 45 and swings it clockwise to the position shown in FIGURE 3. Since the multiplying lever is pinned at 46 to the operating portion 30 of the handle, it will carry the operating portion clockwise to the position of FIGURE 3. During movement of the handle to this position the pin 52 slides axially and operates the latch.

FIGURES 7, 8 and 9 show a modified version of the structure in which the operating portion and gripping portion of the handle are formed integrally and a shifting pivot arrangement is provided. In this form of the invention there is an escutcheon 122 secured by screws 124 t a support bracket 126 mounted in the door. The handle is formed with an elongated gripping portion 128 and an integral operating portion 130 having a finger actuating surface 140. As in the case of the first embodiment of the invention, there is an actuating pin 152 provided for operating a latch member 154, and a biasing spring 156 is mounted on the pin.

The handle is mounted on a pin 160 which projects between opposite walls of the escutcheon 122 and which extends through an elongated slot 162 formed in the handle so that the handle is both pivotally movable and translationally movable with reference to the door. A spring 164 is connected between a boss 166 on the handle and the support bracket 126 in order to bias the handle to the inoperative position A shown in FIGURE 7, wherein th pin 160 abuts the outer end of the elongated slot 162. As shown best in FIGURE 9 the operating portion of the handle is formed with a bore 170 which receives balls 172 and 174. A spring 176 in the bore urges the balls outwardly in opposite directions. The opposite walls of the escutcheon 122 are bored as shown at 178 to provide recesses adapted to seat the balls 172, 174 to provide a friction detent, and the location of this friction detent is such that the balls 172, 174 seat in the recesses formed by the bore 173 when the handle is in its inoperative position A of FIGURE 7. With the parts in this position, finger pressure upon the surface 140 will swing the handle in a clockwise direction. During the initial part of this movement the handle will swing about the axis of the friction detent formed by the balls 172, 174i and the recesses in the escutcheon. When the handle has swung to a location where the pin 16% seats against the inner end of the elongated slot 162, the axis will shift and the remaining movement of the handle will be above the axis of pin 16 27. This shifting pivotal arrangement multiplies the extent that the free end of the handle gripping portion 12% projects out from the surface of the door as the handle swings from the inoperative position A to the gripping position B of FIGURE 8.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement 4 may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A door handle having a gripping portion and an operating portion; means mounting said gripping portion on a door for movement between an inoperative position wherein said gripping portion lies substantially flush with the surface of said door and a gripping position wherein at least a part of said gripping portion projects out from said surface; means mounting said operating portion on said door for movement between said actuating and actuated positions; and means multiplying the extent that said gripping portion projects out from said surface as it moves from inoperative position to gripping position upon actuation of the operating portion of said handle, comprising a multiplier lever mounted on said operating portion and having sliding camming engagement with said gripping portion at a location spaced from said first mentioned mounting means.

2. A door handle having an elongated gripping portion and an operating portion, means mounting said gripping portion on a door for movement between an inoperative position wherein said gripping portion lies substantially flush with the surface of said door and a gripping osition wherein at least a part of said gripping portion projects out from said surface; means mounting said operating portion on said door for movement between actuating and actuated positions; means multiplying the extent that said gripping portion projects out from said surface as it moves from inoperative position to gripping position upon actuation of the operating portion of said handle, comprising a multiplier lever mounted on said operating portion at a location spaced from the pivotal axis thereof, said lever having sliding camming engagement with said gripping portion at a location spaced from said first mentioned mounting means and said lever being adapted to fulcrum about said first mentioned mounting means upon actuation of the operating portion of said handle; and a latch actuator mounted in said door and adapted to be operated by said handle.

3. In a vehicle body having a latch and a movable latch actuating member, a latch actuating handle comprising an operating portion engageable with said latch actuating member, a gripping portion, said portions being mounted on the body for simultaneous movement between an inoperative position wherein said gripping portion lies substantially flush with a panel of said body and a latch actuating position wherein said gripping portion projects from said panel, movement of said operating portion from said inoperative position to said latch actuating position causing said operating portion to engage said latch actuating member, and multiplying means responsive to movement of said operating portion to multiply the extent of movement of said gripping portion from said inoperative position to an intermediate position thereof wherein said gripping portion may be gripped, movement of said gripping portion from said intermediate position to said latch actuating position moving said operating portion to cause latch actuating movement of said latch actuating member.

4. A latch handle having a gripping portion and an operating portion; means mounting said gripping portion on a body for movement between an inoperative position wherein said gripping portion lies substantially parallel to the surface of a panel of said body and a gripping position wherein at least a part of said gripping portion projects out from said surface; means mounting said operating portion on said body for movement between actuating and actuated positions; and means multiplying the extent that said gripping portion projects out from said surface as it moves from inoperative position to gripping position upon actuation of the operating portion of said handle and including a multiplier lever connected bet-ween said operating portion and said gripping portion.

5. In a vehicle body, a latch handle including an operating portion and a gripping portion, means mounting said portions on the body for swinging movement in the same rotational direction between an inoperative position and a latch actuating position, said gripping portion lying substantially flush with a panel of the body when in the inoperative position thereof and projecting from said panel when in the latch actuating position thereof, and multiplying means responsive to movement of said operating portion to multiply the extent of movement of said gripping portion from said inoperative position thereof to said latch actuating position thereof.

6. A latch handle as recited in claim 5 wherein said Operating portion and said gripping portion are formed integrally with each other.

7. In a vehicle body, a latch handle member including an operating portion and a gripping portion formed integrally with said operating portion, means mounting said portions on a member of said body for swinging movement in the same rotational direction between an inoperative position and a latch actuated position and including a pin on one of said members located within an elongated slot in the other of said members, said gripping portion lying substantially flush with a panel of the body when in the inoperative position thereof and projecting from said panel when in the latch actuating position thereof, and multiplying means responsive to movement of said operating portion to multiply the extent of movement of said gripping portion from said inoperative position thereof to said latch actuating position thereof.

8. In a vehicle body, a latch handle member including an operating portion and a gripping portion formed integally with said operating portion, means mounting said portions on a member of said body for swinging movement in the same rotational direction between an inoperative position and a latch actuated position and including a pin on one of said members located for relative movement within an elongated slot in the other of said members, said gripping portion lying substantially flush with a panel of the body when in the inoperative position thereof and projecting from said panel when in the latch actuating position thereof, and multiplying means responsive to movement of said operating portion to multiply the extent of movement of said gripping portion from said inoperative position thereof to said latch actuating position thereof, said multiplying means including frictional detent holding means between said handle and body members at a location spaced from said pin, said frictional detent holding means forming the pivotal axis for said portions during initial movement from the inoperative position thereof, said axis shifting to said pin upon predetermined movement of said portions from the inoperative toward the latch actuated position thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,020,075 Johnstone et al. Feb. 6, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 632,123 Great Britain Nov. 16, 1949 

5. IN A VEHICLE BODY, A LATCH HANDLE INCLUDING AN OPERATING PORTION AND A GRIPPING PORTION, MEANS MOUNTING SAID PORTIONS ON THE BODY FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT IN THE SAME ROTATIONAL DIRECTION BETWEEN AN INOPERATIVE POSITION AND A LATCH ACTUATING POSITION, SAID GRIPPING PORTION LYING SUBSTANTIALLY FLUSH WITH A PANEL OF THE BODY WHEN IN THE INOPERATIVE POSITION THEREOF AND PROJECTING FROM SAID PANEL WHEN IN THE LATCH ACTUATING POSITION THEREOF, AND MULTIPLYING MEANS RESPONSIVE TO MOVEMENT OF SAID OPERATING PORTION TO MULTIPLY THE EXTENT OF MOVEMENT OF SAID GRIPPING PORTION FROM SAID INOPERATIVE POSITION THEREOF TO SAID LATCH ACTUATING POSITION THEREOF. 